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theoretical
5 dictionary results for: Theoretical
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
the·o·ret·i·cal       [thee-uh-ret-i-kuhl] Pronunciation Key
–adjective
1.of, pertaining to, or consisting in theory; not practical (distinguished from applied).
2.existing only in theory; hypothetical.
3.given to, forming, or dealing with theories; speculative.
Also, the·o·ret·ic.

[Origin: 1610–20; theoretic (< LL theōréticus < Gk theōrétikós, equiv. to theōrét(ós) to be seen (verbid of theōreǐn to view) + -ikos -ic) + -al1]

—Related forms
the·o·ret·i·cal·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
the·o·ret·i·cal       (thē'ə-rět'ĭ-kəl)  Pronunciation Key 
adj.  
  1. Of, relating to, or based on theory.
  2. Restricted to theory; not practical: theoretical physics.
  3. Given to theorizing; speculative.


[Late Latin theōrēticus, from Greek theōrētikos, from theōrētos, observable, from theōrein, to look at; see theorem.]

the'o·ret'i·cal·ly adv.
Synonyms: These adjectives mean concerned primarily with theories or hypotheses rather than practical considerations: theoretical linguistics; abstract reasoning; a purely academic discussion; a hypothetical statement; speculative knowledge.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
theoretical 
1616, from L.L. theoreticus "of or pertaining to theory" (c.397), from Gk. theoretikos "contemplative, pertaining to theory" (by Aristotle contrasted to praktikos), from theoretos "that may be seen or considered," from theorein "to consider, look at" (see theory).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
theoretical

adjective
1. concerned primarily with theories or hypotheses rather than practical considerations; "theoretical science" [ant: empiric] 
2. concerned with theories rather than their practical applications; "theoretical physics" [ant: applied] 

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
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American Heritage Stedman's Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

theoretical the·o·ret·i·cal (thē'ə-rět'ĭ-kəl)
adj.

  1. Of, relating to, or based on theory.
  2. Restricted to theory; not practical.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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